Should Malton revive the Dickens Festival? (From Gazette & Herald)

Should Malton revive the Dickens Festival?

3:37pm Wednesday 14th December 2011 in The Dickens Link

NEXT year marks the bicentenary of Charles Dickens’s birth, a fact not to be missed by any Dickens scholar worth his salt.

And this December marks 25 years since Malton held its first Dickens Festival, an event which drew hundreds of visitors and capitalised on the author’s links with the town. Dickens was a regular visitor to Malton and his ever-popular novel A Christmas Carol, was inspired by the counting house offices in Chancery Lane.

The images here from the Gazette archives show scenes from the three festivals which took over the town and were enjoyed by young and old, residents and visitors alike.

We’ve asked leading councillors and community representatives if they think the Dickens Festival should be revived in this milestone year.

Many see Malton’s links with Dickens as a golden opportunity for promotion.

Malton’s mayor, Coun Jason Fitzgerald-Smith, said he welcomed the idea.

He said: “We should look at anything which is potentially going to bring more people into Malton to support our businesses. I would certainly like to see it revived.

“But we would need to start planning such a festival early next year because it will take time.”

His sentiments were echoed by Denys Townsend, chairman of Malton and Norton Business in Action.

He said: “With Malton’s historic links with Dickens, we should capitalise on them and help our shops at the same time.”

Coun Lindsey Burr, who represents the town on Ryedale District Council and is a former council chairman, said: “It’s a fantastic idea. The festival did bring in a lot of people into Malton and with them business for the shops. People in the shops used to dress in Victorian costume to add to the atmosphere. Let’s start a campaign to bring the festival back.”

John Stone, leading local historian and member of the Dickens Society committee, said the 1980s festivals which ran for several years, saw traders and residents dress in Victorian costume.

“It attracted many people to Malton which was good business for the shops,” he said.

The business community had masterminded the festivals and Mr Stone believed it could be successfully revived for next Christmas.

Just a few of the people who took the trouble to turn out in Victorian costumes in December 1987

Jeff Banks with three girls in Dickensian fashion, sisters Fiona, Anne-Frances and Ruth Woodall

December 1987 and young and old are enjoying the chance to dress up and have fun

Fun at children’s day at the festival in 1989

What do you think?

Should Malton revive the Dickens Festival? Leave a comment below.